8B/10B Code and Error Correction

To: stds-802-3-hssg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: 8B/10B Code and Error Correction

From: widmer@xxxxxxxxxx

Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:47:44 -0400

Sender: owner-stds-802-3-hssg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Several contributors have emphasized the need for very low error rates. The
8B/10B code makes it easier to achieve and verify that performance for any kind
of data pattern, rather than just random data. The code also has good built-in
error detection and error locating capabilities which can be exploited for error
correction with negligible additional bandwidth. US Patent 5,740,186 "Apparatus
and Method for Error Correction based on Transmission Code Violations and
Parity", Apr. 14 1998, describes a detailed example of the technique.
Albert X. Widmer
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Tel. 914-945-2047
widmer@xxxxxxxxxx